Archive for month: June, 2015

Travellers in North America are eternally mourning the expense and difficulty of the journey to Europe. Despite the ease that air travel and Alaska car rentals has brought to global wandering, regular travellers always wonder if there’s a better way. Well, Russian officials have been wondering the same thing.

Not for the first time Russian officials have announced a proposal to create a “super highway” that would journey from North America to Europe. The most recent super highway that has been announced is one that would take the brave driver from New York City, through North America. At the tip of North America, they would cross from Alaska to Russia and finally end up in London, UK. But how plausible is this road? Is it likely to be available to those with Alaska car rentals any time soon? Avis Alaska car rentals got the dirt on Russia’s super highway proposal. Read on to find out more.

What is the super highway?

The super highway would be a 13, 000 mile highway stretching from New York City all the way to London, UK. The highway would likely be composed of road travel and either railways or ferries in order to cross the Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia. The mastermind behind the plan has dubbed the structure the “Trans-Eurasian Belt Development.”

Who is behind the project?

Projects similar to the Trans-Eurasian Belt Development have been proposed in the past without success. This time, however, someone with a little more sway and power is behind the project. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s right hand man, Vladimir Yakunin, is the brains behind this development. As head of Russian Railways and alleged successor to the Presidential spot (hand-picked by President Putin himself), Yakunin is not just some government lackey.

Yakunin proposed the development at a meeting with the Russian Academy of Science. Since then, it has caused contentious debate about the feasibility of such a massive international project. Not only that, but also under debate is the popularity of the development. How many people will actually use this? Will anyone take cars – whether their own or Alaska car rentals – over such an arduous journey? Or will the money go to waste?

Will the Trans-Eurasian Belt come to fruition?

At this point in the project, anyone would be hard pressed to state for certain whether or not the belt will be built. Both sides of the debate have plenty of reasons to list whether it should or should not be built. Let’s take a look at both.

In North American culture, cash is king. With a project of such mighty proportions, the cost would be almost unbearable for most of the countries involved. Simply put – the Trans-Eurasian Belt would cost, as Yakunin put it, “trillions of dollars.” For richer countries like America, the development of roads costs a mere $3.6 million. For countries like Russia, however, the creation of the same infrastructure has a price tag as high as $31 million. When Russia is already struggling to fund domestic projects, is it really plausible that they will (or should) take on the overwhelming expense of global development?

But to every argument, there’s one just as strong to counter. Yakunin’s argument is that the development of this road would encourage expansion across Asia and Russia’s lesser-populated areas. Running parallel to the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Trans-Eurasian Belt would bring in more tourism to scarcely visited cities and possibly boost the population. Yakunin argues that this railway would be an opportunity for economic development.

Yet, the largest issue that nay-sayers have pointed out is the international component of the project. Russia and the U.S. have never been best buds, and the Trans-Eurasian Belt would require international co-operation from several western countries with Russia and Asia. Many believe such co-operation impossible, and that those who think otherwise are far too optimistic. Others could argue that such a project would be the ignition to finally create global peace.

It’s tough to say whether or not the project will ever be realized. If it does, it’s unlikely to be a journey that is realistic for Alaska car rentals, but who knows? Would you take the journey?

Hunting is a popular American past time that has been used as both reason for and enhancement of vacations for generations. If you’re traveling around the state in your Alaska car rentals then you may want to take part in this classic American hobby. Before you can do that, you need to make sure you know the places that are good for hunting and that you have the appropriate paperwork.

We’ve found out all the information you’ll need to hunt in Alaska. Before you drive off hunting in your Alaska car rentals, read on to avoid trouble with the authorities and to get the best experience possible.

Hunting licenses in Alaska

In order to hunt in Alaska you need a hunting ticket or permit. You can buy these online at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website. You can also purchase a license for hunting and fishing online at the same website. These websites will have all the information you need, including what permits and licenses can be purchased and which can be printed at home or need to be mailed.

Don’t try to go hunting or fishing without a permit. If you get caught, you could be faced with huge fines. The risk simply isn’t worth it. If you’re saving on Alaska car rentals with Avis, you don’t want to have to spend the savings to pay a ticket.

Westwind Guide Service

If you want the best experience of Alaska hunting, look into the Westwind Guide Service. This service will help you find the best hunting spots and capture award-winning catches. The service offers guides for sheep, bear, moose, and predator and wolf hunts. Before going you’ll need to make reservations. Though you can reach them by email, they prefer reservations by phone if possible.

You can buy 10, 11, 16, and 20 day hunts with tent accommodation, aircraft transportation, and spotting and stalking. Hunts can range in price up to $38,500 for a 20-day hunt or as low as $12,000 for a 10-day hunt.

The food at Westwind certainly won’t let you starve. You’ll be fed healthy portions of meat, potatoes, onions, sandwiches, cheese, snacks, coffee, and hot chocolate. However, this isn’t a camp you can drive your Alaska car rentals to. You’ll need to park the car and take an air taxi over.

Stoney River Lodge

Stoney River Lodge is a remote wilderness lodge in Alaska that allows you to take part in sheep, caribou, moose, and grizzly bear hunts as well as fishing. Stoney River offers a bed and breakfast near fishing spots as well as the use of gear.

Do you or someone you’re traveling with want to take part in activities other than hunting? The Stoney River Lodge also offers premium berry picking.

Stoney River Lodge offers 6, 7, 10, and 14 day hunts. Hunting prices range from as low as $4,800 to $30,000. Reserve well in advance to make sure you can get a spot on their hunts.

Green Rocks Wilderness Lodge

The Green Rocks Wilderness Lodge offers packages for both hunting and fishing, which are based on a double occupancy. These are 7-day long self-guided tours that cost $2,050. All three meals of the day are provided. Trips are for salmon and halibut fishing, and black bear, Sitka black tail deer, and wolf hunting. All hunting is done on 18 foot Lunds, offering you a classic Alaskan hunting experience. Make sure you have some skills boating, as these Lunds have 40 and 50 horse motors. However, once you have your assigned boat you can go out hunting and fishing whenever your heart desires.

Green Rocks is great for big groups. Accommodations sleep 15 people maximum, so if you come in a group of 12 or more people then the cabin is all yours.

Get the ultimate hunting trip started on the right foot when you reserve your Alaska car rentals from Avis.

Contemporary culture has a fascination and newfound love for craft beers. With this new trend in craft breweries, going on brewery tours and beer tastings has become an essential part of any traveler’s vacation. Fortunately for you, Alaska has plenty of breweries to check out when you’re traveling around in your Alaska car rentals. Avis Alaska car rentals has compiled a list of local breweries to visit and test, as well as information on each one to help you decide which to tour.

Alaskan Brewing Company

The Alaskan Brewing Company was one of the original breweries to return craft brewing to Alaska. Founded nearly 30 years ago in 1986, the Alaskan Brewing Company is located at 5429 Shaune Drive, Juneau. This brewery is known for beers that have won awards in regional, national, and international competitions.

The Alaskan Brewing Co. has 7 year round beers, as well as 4 seasonal beers and 2 limited edition beers in their archive. Their limited edition beers are the Smoked Porter and Pilot Series: Imperial Rye. Their seasonal beers are their winter and summer ales, Fall 2014’s was a Pumpkin Porter, and their Spring 2015 is the Big Mountain Pale Ale. Their year round brews include White, Amber, Hopothermia, Stout, Imperial Red, Freeride APA, and Icy Bay IPA. The Alaskan Brewing Co. truly does have a pint for everyone to enjoy. If you’re a real beer lover you’ll want to try them all, so make sure to assign a DD for your Alaska car rentals.

Anchorage Brewing Company

Located at 148 West 91st Ave, Anchorage, the Anchorage Brewing Company has 5 beers to offer its visitors. The Galaxy White IPA is a stronger beer, at 7% alcohol and will thrill the explorative side of any drinker. Another IPA on tap is Bitter Monk Belgian-Style Double IPA with 9% alcohol. Love Buzz Saison perfectly couples peppery notes with a citrusy hint to push you head over heels for this 8% beer. The Tide and Its Takers offers up a lemon-cream-pie hops with floral and wood notes matched with a delicate vanilla – what doesn’t this triple offer up? Finally the Rondy Brew Saison finishes the collection with the lightest alcohol content at 6.5%.

All of Anchorage Brewing Company’s beers are bottled with brettanomyces. This guarantees that the beer will continue to alter and evolve as it ages in the bottle.

Kodiak Island Brewery

The Kodiak Island Brewery was founded in 2003 and continues to use only pure island water, organic malts, and premium imported specialty malts in their beers. Located at 117 Lower Mill Bay Road on Kodiak Island, the brewery offers up 5 year round craft beers – all of which you can sample in the tap room.

Their beers include the Snowshoe session IPA, Liquid Sunshine steam brew, North Pacific Scottish ale, Wing-Nut Brown brown ale, and Sarah Pale pale ale. Their beers maintain a relatively common alcohol content, ranging from 4.5% to 6%. They also have a variety of special brews, seasonals, and occasionals.

Other breweries across Alaska

These certainly are not the only breweries you can visit in your Alaska car rentals. In fact, Alaska has quite the range of craft breweries to visit. Even those we haven’t listed are certainly worth visiting. A few other breweries to watch for are:

49th State Brewing Company

Arkose Brewery

Bearpaw River Brewing Company

Broken Tooth Brewing Company

Denali Brewing Company

Gakona Brewing Company

Growler Bay Brewing Company

Glacier Brewhouse

Hoodoo Brewing Company

Kenai River Brewing Company

Last Frontier Brewing Company

Midnight Sun Brewing Company

Resolution Brewing Company

Silver Gulch Brewing Company

Skagway Brewing Company

Sleeping Lady Brewing Company

One of the best ways to get to know a state is through its beer, but it’s also important to drive safely. For the best vehicles to explore Alaska and its culture (beer and otherwise!), reserve your Alaska car rentals from Avis today.